Hooge Crater Cemetery
Hooge Crater Cemetery
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
George Hutchinson, one of 6 children of whom only 5 survived, was the eldest of 4 sons and a daughter. His father Edward Hutchinson was born circa 1863 in the district of Bishop Auckland his mother Elizabeth possibly surname Jackson, native of Whitburn, circa 1868. George was born at Whitburn in 1898, in 1901 he and his parents were living at 3, Wagonman’s Row, Washington, County Durham, Edward was employed above ground at the colliery as a mason. The census document specifies the following in connection to the Hutchinsons’ and their next door neighbour, “These two families had scarlet fever in the house. The information was obtained from another person who could not give the information as where the persons were born.” Could this outbreak of scarlet fever have caused the demise of the child they lost? Edward moved his family extensively over the next 10 years. Son Henry, known as Harry was born at Tyne Dock, South Shields in 1901, Arthur at Whitburn in 1904, May in 1905 at Middle Rainton and James at Byers Green in 1910. Edward Hutchinson supported his family employed as a bricklayer and builder in 1911, they were living at 10, Pease Street, South Church, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, the older children including George (12) were scholars.
When Britain declared a state of war existed with Germany, August 4th 1914, George was 16/17 years of age and would not have been eligible to enlist until he turned 18, however, he must have told an untruth as regards his age. He enlisted at Bishop Auckland in 1914 assigned as Private 2558 to the 6th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, a Territorial Force which with the 50th Division took up position on the Tyne Defences. Based at Boldon Colliery by October 1914 they had moved to Ravensworth Park and the main body of the regiment departed to France, April 17th 1915, Private Hutchinson did not join them until October 2nd 1915 as the Army now considered him to be 19 years of age and eligible for service overseas. As his record has not been found it is impossible to follow his exact movements. Not only did he rise through the ranks to Lance Corporal but was assigned a new service number, 203990 and posted to the 20th Battalion D.L.I. Both the 1/6th and the 20th Battalion participated in major battles on the Somme, however at the time of his demise he was with the 20th Battalion in Belgium where they participated in 1917 at the Battle of Messines June 7th-14th, the Battle of Pilkem Ridge July 31st-August 2nd, the Battle of the Menin Road September 20th-25th and the Operations on the Flanders coast.
Lance Corporal 203990 George Hutchinson was killed in action, September 21st 1917 and buried on the battlefield by his comrades, his grave marked with a cross bearing his name and military details. Post war at the request of the French and Belgian Governments isolated graves and small concentrations were brought into larger cemeteries. Two graves were found at map reference J. 20. d. 3. 3. without crosses, the first was identified as a British soldier, name and rank unknown, the second as that of Lance Corporal Hutchinson by means of a disc found on his remains. They were brought into Hooge Crater Cemetery, near Ypres, Belgium for reburial with all honour and reverence by an Army Chaplain. Lance Corporal Hutchinson Durham Light Infantry is at rest grave XIII. D. 12, he was 19 years of age and single.
His mother Elizabeth received all monies due to him, a pension, his awards of the 1915 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal and his disc, sent to her at 10, John Street, Eldon Lane, Bishop Auckland, County Durham. She commissioned at a cost of 6 shillings 8 pence an additional inscription to be added to his military headstone, it reads, “Our Loss Is His Eternal Gain.”
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
George Hutchinson is remembered at Eldon on E61.01 and at Bishop Auckland on B140.27
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 256
